Have your clothes or your sandals given you tan lines? Do your tan lines look bad on you? Do you want to know how to get rid of them and what causes them in the first place? If so, this article is for you.
In this article, we are going to discuss what causes tan lines and how to get rid of tan lines using natural remedies.
Before that, do the natural remedies for removing tan lines work, or are they just another myth? Do you need to consult a doctor regarding tan lines? Are tan lines curable? Kindly read on to find out.
Why do we get tan lines? What are the causes of tan lines?
Tan lines occur when we spend too much time under the sun, wearing the same type of clothing. The part of our skin that is exposed to the sun’s UV rays becomes darker or tanner due to the excess production of melanin pigment.
The part of our skin that is under some type of clothing or footwear remains fairer as it does not receive as much UV radiation from the sun. Our clothes and our footwear have some amount of Sun Protection Index (SPI).
Can tan lines be removed, or are they permanent? Will a beard leave a tan line?
Removing tan lines is very simple. There are many home remedies available to remove tan lines. All of the ingredients can be found right in your kitchen and bathroom.
You might be surprised to know this but even our beards have a fairly high Sun Protection Index (SPI) of 21. This fact was found via research conducted by an institute called Radiation Protection Dosimetry in 2012.
Beard tan lines mostly occur in men with brown skin and thick beards. One of the main drawbacks of having a large and thick beard is that it will cause beard tan lines once you shave it off.
Beard tan lines will look awkward on your face but don’t worry, there are many home remedies that can get rid of beard tan lines as well. We will discuss them in detail in the next section.
What are the natural remedies to get rid of tan lines? 6 Natural Remedies That Work Fast.
These natural home remedies remove tan lines anywhere on the body or from the face & neck within 30 minutes. They are effective but cost-effective to implement. They are:
1. Lemon peels or lemon juice
Lemon, being a citrus fruit, is rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C accelerates the shedding of dead skin cells and is very efficient at removing the melanin pigment on the skin. Therefore, your skin becomes fair and soft.
Wherever you find tan lines on your skin, just rub cut lemons on that part for 20 minutes. Your tan lines will fade and your skin will become fair. Then wash that part of your skin with water, lest you might get a minor burn on that part of your skin as lemon contains citric acid.
2. Cucumbers
Like lemons, cucumbers too are rich in Vitamin C, which accelerates dead skin cell loss and makes your skin fair. Wherever you find tan lines on your skin, just place a few slices of cucumber on that part of your skin. Your tan lines will fade away and your skin will become fair.
3. Potatoes
Some people might be surprised at this fact but potatoes too are rich in Vitamin C and Potassium. Potassium nourishes the skin while Vitamin C removes tan lines and makes the skin fairer.
Wherever you find tan lines on your skin, just place a few slices of peeled potato there to solve the problem. The fresher the potato, the more effective it will be at curing tan lines on your skin.
4. Baking Soda
Baking Soda is effective at removing the melanin pigment on your skin. Mix one cup of baking soda with half a cup of warm water to form a thick paste of baking soda. Apply this paste to the dark side of your skin. Making both sides of the tan line equally fair will eradicate the tan line on your skin.
5. Black Tea
Black tea is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols that catalyze the shedding of dead skin cells and remove the melanin pigment on our skin. When both sides of the tan line become fair, the tan line is eliminated.
Pour a few cups of black tea into a bucket of water and bathe with the mixture. It will make your skin fair and cure the tan lines on your skin. Black tea can also cure any burns that are there on your skin.
6. Milk cream
Milk cream moisturizes and nourishes your skin. It is also the most effective at removing the melanin pigment on your skin. Again, by making both sides of the tan line equally fair, we cure the tan line. You must apply milk cream to the tanner side of the tan line.
Mix one cup of milk cream with half a cup of turmeric powder to form a thick paste. Apply this paste where you have tan lines on your skin. Let the paste be on your skin for 20 minutes. Then wash off this paste with lukewarm water. You will find that your skin is cured of tan lines and has become fairer.
Also read: Easy Way To Get Rid of Body Lice
What makes tan lines on feet last a long time? Is there any solution for this?
Most of people wear the same footwear for a long time (in the order of years together). Hence, the same parts of their feet are exposed to the sun and the same parts of their feet are shielded from the sun for years together.
Hence, tan lines develop easily on the feet and last longer than tan lines on other body parts. Even if the whole foot is made fair due to some remedies, it is just a matter of time before sun exposure makes tan lines appear on your feet again (unless your feet are completely covered by footwear).
There are many home remedies available to cure tan lines on the feet. They are:
1. Soak your feet in shampoo and lemon juice
Lemon juice is rich in Vitamin C, which reduces the melanin pigment on your skin and catalyzes the shedding of dead skin cells. Shampoo too accelerates the shedding of dead skin cells.
Take half a bucket of water. Juice six lemons and mix it with the water. Add one tablespoon of shampoo to the solution and mix well. Soak your feet in this solution for 20 minutes. Then take a scrub and clean your feet.
All the dirt, melanin, and tan lines on your feet would have gone away. Your feet would have become fair and smooth. Once your feet have become fair and clean, apply some moisturizer (like Vaseline) on your feet to prevent sun tanning and sunburns in the future.
2. Coffee powder and coconut oil
Coffee powder and coconut oil are rich in vitamins and minerals that remove the melanin pigment on your skin and enhance the shedding of dead skin cells.
Mix two tablespoons of coffee powder with one tablespoon of coconut oil and apply it on your feet. Let your feet soak it for 10 minutes. Then wash your feet and scrub them. Then was your feet one last time and dried them. All the tan lines and dirt on your feet would have faded away.
Why do you lose your tan in winter? According to Scientific research & Dermatology.
During winter, we do not receive as much UV radiation from the sun as during summer. Therefore the melanocytes (cells) at the bottom layer of our skin, do not produce much melanin.
When only a small amount of melanin is produced, there will not be much of a difference between the tanner and the lighter side of our skin. Therefore, our tan lines diminish or disappear completely during the winter.
When to see your dermatologist about tan lines? What to expect from your doctor?
Tan lines usually do not require us to consult with a doctor. They can be cured using home remedies or ointments. However, if your tan lines do not fade away even after applying home remedies and ointments, kindly consult a dermatologist. It could be a symptom of skin cancer.
Dermatologists usually recommend applying sun lotion with an SPI (Sun Protection Index) of 30 or more to cure tan lines. They make your skin fair and moist to prevent sun tanning and sunburns.
Conclusion
Apply home remedies at least once a week to prevent the occurrence of tan lines. If tan lines persist despite applying home remedies and ointments, kindly consult a dermatologist as it could be a symptom of skin cancer.
Tan lines are not at all fashionable and do not look good on people. So if you see a tan line on your skin, try to get rid of it as soon as possible.
SOME EXTRA TIPS FROM EXPERTS
- Taking a nice hot bath will help you in reducing your tan lines.
- Use moisturizers that contain AHA in them; these are very effective in avoiding tan lines.
- Going to the hot pools is very useful for fading away the tan lines from your skin.
- If you also want some fun with your treatment then rolling around in the sand on the beach can help you to remove tanned skin.
- Use baby oil to moisturize your skin because it’s instrumental in fighting against any impurities.
- Take weekly spas to improve overall skin relaxation.
- Take a Sauna bath once every two weeks.
- Using Body Scrubs more frequently.
FAQs
1. Does coconut oil help you tan faster?
Yes, coconut oil has zero SPI and amplifies the absorption of sunlight. Hence, it makes you tan faster.
2. Why do people smell bad after tanning?
Laying on a tan bed or taking a sunbath, activates certain bacteria on the skin. These good bacteria produce certain chemicals that make you smell bad. This bad smell is not harmful to your health.
3. Do sunburns make you sick?
Yes, severe sunburns can make you sick. Severe sunburns are accompanied by symptoms like nausea, vomiting, chills, fever, and headaches.
4. Does melanin cause Vitamin D deficiency?
Yes, melanin degrades our skin’s ability to absorb Vitamin D from sunlight. Hence, people with very dark skin are at risk of getting Vitamin D deficiency.
5. What can you carry with yourself for repeated application?
Take some rose water in a small spray bottle. Keep some Tulsi (Basil) leaves immersed in it and store it in the refrigerator overnight. Always carry the spray bottle with you whenever you are out. Spray it occasionally on your face and other areas when you are out in the sun, this helps you to prevent tanning and keep you off from sunburns.
(PS: Renew the mixture every two days.)
6. What are the best solutions to remove tan from men?
The same process listed above can be effective for Men too.
7. What is the best face pack for men to remove suntan?
The same process listed above can be effective for Men too.
